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Ford partners with Formula Drift racing series

October 11, 2012

Ford has announced that it will be an official partner of Formula Drift and the 2013 Formula Drift championship.

“Our involvement with Formula Drift is not new, but we are taking it to the next level with this announcement,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. “Enthusiasts can now see our great Mustangs on the track with great drivers like Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Justin Pawlak, and they'll get a better chance to interact with our stars as well as our exciting production vehicles off track through consumer outreach at all the events. Formula Drift is a major part of our action motorsports program targeting new audiences for Ford.”

Ford has actively supported the professional drifting efforts of Team Falken Tire and drivers including Gittin, Pawlak and others since 2005. Gittin won the 2010 Formula Drift championship and leads the 2012 series going into this weekend's finale. Pawlak, the 2011 Formula Drift series runner-up, won the first two rounds in 2012 and currently sits fourth--70 points behind Gittin.

Initially popularized by fans of import sport compacts, professional drifting has taken root with a younger, more active audience that's interested in nontraditional, emerging motorsports. Formula Drift estimates 87 percent of its fan base is 18-34 years old.

Drifting is one of many nontraditional approaches Ford is using to reach new customers.

“Ever since Ford came into the series competitively in 2005, we have seen the power of what a factory-backed effort can do,” said Ryan Sage, co-founder/vice-president, Formula Drift. “Now we are even more excited to have them on as an official partner for the final event of the year and into 2013.”

The finale of the 2012 season of the Formula Drift championship is this weekend at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway on October 12-13, 2012 for the final event of its ninth season.